Entitlement & Ebenezer culture
Africhrist podcast and Praying With Impact blog
Entitlement: The privilege to serve and be an Ebenezer & its Impact on Prayer
Entitled:
adjective
believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment.
Entitlement:
noun
the fact of having a right to something.
The Bible demonstrates to us that Entitlement is a gift that comes with salvation through the unmerited favor of Grace. However its upkeep requires certain characteristics. The characteristics of integrity, faith and obedience, as we will see clearly in our scripture references. It’s a balance between skill, assignment and character. One may have the title, gift, skill or even anointing to minister but bad character will lead to a corrupted display of entitlement. God will act swiftly to withdraw one’s privilege to that entitlement, as we will observe in the case of king Soul and the sons of Eli and Samuel. One can be Entitled but rejected. Today, many are operating in God-rejected entitlements in ministry, leadership and other roles.
Mishandling of entitlement leads to abuse of power
Abuse of entitlement is born out of failure to understand the necessary balance of the dichotomy of power. We have to respect and understand the difference between DUNAMIS and EXOUSIA. In simple terms Dunamis ( root word dynamos) is the “raw power” and exousia is the “authority” to use that power.
The following is an example to help understand this concept in real terms. Possession of a gun does not give one authority to use it except in gazetted places or times and circumstances.
Example: A police officer with gun in holster, stops a speeding vehicle using police lights or a hand wave. He/she is using the visual authority of the uniform, badge and police lights (conferred authority = exousia ). If then during the interaction a disagreement occurs and the officer uses force of the gun to shoot, that is use of the Dunamis (forceful exertion of power ) component of his entitlement as an officer of law enforcement. If it is determined he/she did not have to shoot, then that is abuse of the privilege he/she was entrusted with. In a law abiding society, they are held accountable for the abuse of this privilege. In the last couple. Of years we’ve seen that happen in Minnesota USA, where the use of Dunamis was unnecessary abuse of power of entitlement and the officers convicted.
Privilege of answered prayers: Expression of God’s Grace, Mercy and Love as portion of our Entitlement
In the area of prayer, God will answer our prayers again as a privilege of entitlement manifested through his love and mercy under guarded by our faith and trust in Him and his Word.
Effective prayer, unlike reading or studying the Word, is necessarily relationship dependent. One may read or study the Bible with motives other than those based on a relationship with God. For example as a historical or literally writing. On the other hand one needs to have a relationship of faith and trust in God, for them to communicate with Him in prayer. Jesus refers to this as the worshiping in truth and spirit. Prayer is more than just “asking”, it’s a fellowship with. the Almighty God maker of the universe.
John 4:23-24 "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth".
Entitlement is a relationship and a reflection
It’s an ongoing and continuous relationship, meaning that we have to work at it and stay the course daily. As stated above ones motive of studying of the Bible may be as a literature piece or a scholastic endeavor. Prayer on the other hand, is a dyad that calls for a response from God. He does respond to the prayers of those He has a relationship with:
I John 5:14-15 NKJV
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
We further see this relationship to character in the following verses.
1 Peter 3:12 NLT
“The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”
Praying with impact calls for us to abide in Him for guidance. (John 15:4-5. "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear…”)
Good spiritual character is key to Judicious use and ministration of the privilege of entitlement
God is the one who entitles and he is the authority behind “Entitlement” and so whatever we do or however we operate we must reflect the love and character of God. Entitlement therefore comes with responsibility. Paul counseled the Thessalonians about it in the area of work and ministry.
II Thessalonians 3:6-12 NKJV
“But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.”
Flaws and abuses in generational sense of Entitlement and resulting sins that “cannot be atoned”
People who feel entitled hurt others and then turn the blame on the inflicted. This kind of entitlement is manifested in some children or people who have connections with people of power based on cronyism of some sort. Some examples of “group privilege” are position, race, religion or tribal favoritism and privilege
A very good friend of our family, the late Maurice Davis, a Motown Records great and one of the greatest trumpeters ever once gave me a word of wisdom. (In fact he played the trumpet in the famous Motown Temptation’s smash hit “Papa was a Rolling stone”). Maurice later found Christ and was ordained into ministry. He was also godfather to my youngest son. Pastor “D” as people affectionately called him said to me: “Sam, if you throw a rock in a pack of dogs, the one that screams is the one you hit”
One of the lessons I learned from this word of wisdom was that if in a disagreement you tell someone “you’re taking it personal” then you hit and possibly hurt that person. It’s YOU, who personalized it with the “rock” you threw at them. Entitlement manifests when one hurts another and then determines how the victim should or should not react. The proper thing to do is apologize for having said or done what you did and unintentionally hurt or violated that person. In interpersonal relationships, a person who abuses the entitlement of free speech, would see no need to apologize nor be empathetic to the pain they caused. The sons of the temple priest Eli were such abusers.
Selfish entitlement spirit Vs the Ebenezer spirit
The selfish culture of entitlement is a deep spiritual realm that is diametrically opposed to another spiritual culture, the Ebenezer spirit, that they always clash and consequently show the difference between good and evil.
We see this abusive spirit of entitlement in the Bible with the two sons of Eli, the High Priest of Shiloh, who discipled Samuel the prophet, Hophni and Phinehas. As the sons of the priest they felt entitled and demanded a portion of the Temple offering from the people. They ignored any objections from the people and Eli failed chastise them which angered God. That form of entitlement is usually fed by and uses group or individuals as enablers to excuse the behavior. Consequently the Bible referred to them as “wicked scoundrels” who committed sins that ‘could not be atoned’.
1 Samuel 2:12-17 NLT
“Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respect for the Lord or for their duties as priests. Whenever anyone offered a sacrifice, Eli’s sons would send over a servant with a three-pronged fork. While the meat of the sacrificed animal was still boiling, the servant would stick the fork into the pot and demand that whatever it brought up be given to Eli’s sons. All the Israelites who came to worship at Shiloh were treated this way. Sometimes the servant would come even before the animal’s fat had been burned on the altar. He would demand raw meat before it had been boiled so that it could be used for roasting. The man offering the sacrifice might reply, “Take as much as you want, but the fat must be burned first.” Then the servant would demand, “No, give it to me now, or I’ll take it by force.” So the sin of these young men was very serious in the Lord’s sight, for they treated the Lord’s offerings with contempt.”
Sons of Samuel
Interestingly, the sons of Samuel were also guilty of abuse of ‘entitlement’, such that despite their fathers’s stellar ministry and vocation as a godly judge, they were rejected by the people. Their right to serve as judges was denied by the people. Seen as people guilty of misappropriation of entitlement and so could not be fair judges.
1 Samuel 8:1-2, 4-5 NLT
“As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel. Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba. Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.””
The downhill spiral that led to the appointment of Soul as king therefore started with the abuse of Entitlement by Eli who called a praying Hannah drunk, the sons of Eli then followed by those of Samuel. The sin of a few can become the iniquity of a nation, that led to the appointment of Saul as king.
2 Examples of Political entitlement from Bible and current times
The sin of idolatry brought on by the spirit of entitlement.
A good example is that of king Saul who had been anointed to be king. Yet his impatience and character of entitlement just because he was king, led to his abuse of office by transcending the boundaries of his office by performing a spiritual act of sacrifice. This act led to God removing his hand of support for him.
This is a character flaw that many leaders get caught up in. They do things just because they can without allowing anyone to question them. They become the “know it all de facto law of the land”, the do it all and the all engrossing center of power. That is the doorway to authoritarianism and corruption and misuse of God given opportunity to serve and represent him over his people. They start to replace God and his spiritual servants by them selves as demi-gods, classical spiritual idolatry.
Saul, like many politicians today, took on the abuse of power and authority to levels outside his calling without much thought about the destructive consequences to his nation. They stretch the time and areas of service beyond their calling and then make reference to the subjects as the root cause of the changes. Soul said “it’s the people” this fake referendum of authority was the excuse he used for having performed Samuel’s priestly duties himself. We have seen extensions of terms in constitutions from China, Russia and many authoritarian developing nations. National resources become personal coffers of a few. Chaos takes over because God removes his hand of anointing from such leadership, as he did in Soul’s case. This abuse of entitlement fulfills the prophetic contradictions of Proverbs 29:2. This is one of the roots and the birth of generational hatred between people groups.
1 Samuel 13:7-10, 12-14 NLT
“Some of them crossed the Jordan River and escaped into the land of Gad and Gilead. Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear. Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn’t come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. So he demanded, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!” And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself.
Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, So I said, ‘The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for the Lord’s help!’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came.”
“How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.””
God seeks leaders in every area of life that are people with a heart that reflects his heart to the people, a reference made of David who became king after Saul.
Ethnic entitlement, awakening past Russian Conquests``````````
In a recent live TV moment, President Putin of Russia was quizzing his supposed advisers asking each one their opinion on his recent invasion of Ukraine. When the head of intelligence seemed unsure, Putin clearly displayed this entitlement behavior in exasperation. Everyone has to be in line with his opinion. He advises his advisers. In his justification for his invasion of Ukraine, he went through past geopolitical histories of passed Russian empire and its past conquests. Russia is entitled to this land by virtue of the fallen Russian empire. Russia and its resources and military prowess are his discretion and he has bragged about it. That is the authoritarian spirit of entitlement in the political space.
God’s will, through His Word, shows us that entitlement is a privilege to serve.
That is why Jesus said that if one seeks to be great, they must first serve others. The very foundation of answered prayer is a servant spirit and a heart led by the will of God.
Parent generations should produce new generations of “go getters” who work through legitimate means that Paul wrote to the Thessalonians about and not like the sons of Eli who corruptly gained through grab and take or Samuel’s sons who judged corruptly.
The flawed generation of “entitlement” populated by “come takers” grabbing and fighting for an inheritance they didn’t create nor build, results in destruction and mayhem contrary to the spirit of Ebenezer that produces and goodwill among all.
Being an EBENEZER: a proper way to minister Entitlements
First settle it in your heart that you accept a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ.
What is meant by an "Ebenezer"?
In 1Samuel 4:1-11 and 5:1, the Ebenezer is a Biblical site near Gilgal where in two battles the children of Israel were soundly defeated by the Philistines and so it would be considered negatively in their history. However in a turn of events, in a third battle the Israelites beat off the Philistines retreating the Ark of Covenant that they had lost to them. In their thanksgiving the Israelites led by Samuel set up stone markers and acknowledged that God miraculously came to their help and so named it “Stone of Help”.
The stone stood upright “eben-Haezer” and so the place of upright “the stone of help” became known as Ebenezer. Today a person who is an an Ebenezer is a "stone of help," to others or used as a reminder of God’s Holy Presence and Divine aid in a situation or circumstance. So anyone can be an Ebenezer who uses the “entitlements” accorded him by God to help others.
Ebenezers are often bearers of God’s answer to people fulfilling the scripture in I John 5:15 that says that:
“And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
Some Bible Examples of Ebenezers
I will try to use 3 Bible characters to try to explain what the term Ebenezer is as used in a spiritual context. But before understanding its relevance one must look at the genesis of this name and the terms of its use.
Ebenezer is one of the dimensions of God’s spirit that combines the spirit in the lives of Joseph, Nehemiah and Ezra. It manifests at different times, in different ways and with different individual assignments yet each is important in the way God manifests to His people.
Joseph
Was the leader, mastermind, forgiver and generous provider effectively reaching out from afar. He never went back to the motherland, only his lifeless bones. He became a providing father to his family, nation and his host country. Despite being rejected, sold into slavery, tempted, framed and jailed, he showed the power of love and forgiveness.
Nehemiah
The visionary, strategist, organizer rebuilder, action minded, “protector” of his people ready to defend if need be. He used the influence of his position “abroad” to achieve unity among his people “back home”and accomplish repairs in the land of his fathers. He was like a father repairing the breaches. He had carried the plan of God and fulfilled the scriptures including God’s promises in Jeremiah 29:11
Ezra
The encourager, spiritual leader & “empowerer”, wise spiritual Counsellor. He led people into recommitting to God. He led them in prayer and worship of God. He exemplified the redeeming power of the Grace of God. He served the spiritual needs of the nation
So who is an Ebenezer and how do we become one?
God made sure that Ebenezer in the Bible was not a person but an aggregate expression of himself through his creation. Our Father God chooses to manifest this way when we make ourselves available. to him. Sometimes he is one, the other or a combination of the three.
Be an Ebenezer the “ stone of help” to someone who needs it, to your community and generation to help clip the wings of the selfish generation of entitlement so rampant today in every walk of life
1 Samuel 7:6, 7-8, 10, 12 NLT are the reference scriptures
The Ebenezer spirit scripture that impacts our Entitlement in Prayer
I John 5:14-15 NKJV
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
IMPACT PRAYER:
Father I thank you for willing to have a relationship with me despite my past. Thank you for your promise to abide in me if only I abide in you. Thank you for appointing and anointing all of us to be Ebenezers. Help us in our situations because we trust that according to these scriptures you answer us because you hear us. Lord answer our petitions when we call on you as you empower us through these entitlements as it is through this simple but effective prayer.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Part excerpted From
Praying with Impact Interactive
Apple Books
Sam N Kawesa
